Pre-note: In this article, teleclass is an example used to

illustrate one type of eLearning market. The tips work the

same for other eLearning programs, including, but not

limited to, teleseminars and ecourses.

In the mid-1990s, the teleclass format began and was named,

distance learning. During these early years, learning

institutions, particularly universities, were chief users of

this format. Mainly due to the large equipment investment

needed at that time. Now, due to technology changes and

cost reduction, people can give and attend ePrograms without

leaving their chair or selling their first child. No

parking challenges, auto expenses, or travel time required.

Another benefit to learning by phone is that your listening

skills will reach new heights quickly.

In 2003, technology allowed a single conference line to

expand from 30 to 150 participants per line. Affordable

conference lines were previously only available in certain

states, Florida and Nevada. Now other states, like New

York, are jumping in on this bandwagon with affordable

rates.

Currently, a 24/7 conference line, is available to rent

around $600 a year. An alternative is to rent the line by

the hour. This can range between $10 to $20 per hour

depending on the service features desired. You can also

share a line with one or two others to reduce your cost. I

recommend finding line-share partners who are in other time

zones, it makes sharing easier.

Zero-cost teleconference lines at available at

http://www.mrconference.com and by other vendors. Most of

these services have flaws that range from automatic

disconnect if no voice is detected every 8 to 10 minutes, to

being blocked from entering the call because of overstressed

lines. I recommend the leader dialing in 5 to 10 minutes

early to secure the line, however, this doesn't mean that

all participants may not experience over trafficked busy

signals.

Actually, teleprograms will not take the place of "being

there" for all people. The skills and experience of the

teleclass leader or host can also make or break the learning

experience. There are just as many teleclass leader styles

as people. If you have never experienced a teleclass, I

recommend attending four or five before deciding if the

format is or isn't for you.

15 Tips To Help Promote Your eLearning Programs

1. If you produce your own eNewsletter, electronic

newsletter, or eZine, electronic magazine, or printed

newsletter, add an eLearning announcement section.

2. Contact other newsletter editors and ask to have your

program announced in their issue. You can swap ad space,

your ad for their ad, exchange ad space for participation,

offer a commission option, purchase the ad, or pay per

click-through. I don't recommend paying for click-through

unless excellent tracking systems are in place. In order to

attract, make sure their target market and yours match.

3. You can also use pay-per-click through search engines

like Google's AdWord program. If you go this route, I

suggest you purchase ad analyzer software (about $100) or

a service (average $19.95/month) to maximize time and reduce

mistakes.

4. Place notices all over your web site -- especially your

main page -- about the program. Remember: posting

announcement notices is actually passive marketing. You

will still need to pull visitors to the site.

5. Write and distribute Internet articles on the same

subject. Unable to write, hire a ghostwriter. Allow four

to twelve weeks for this process to begin pulling visitors

to your website. The number of articles distributed will

proportionally be your return. My low end measurement has

been: 1 article = 10 visitors or more = 8 new eNewsletter

subscribers = 1 sale. High end: 1 article = 350 new

visitors = 125 new subscribers = 10 sales. This is now one

of the top five Internet promotion building attractions.

6. Since ePrograms don't require people to be physically

present, attendance is now open internationally. Thus, you

will want to distribute information about your eLearning

opportunity globally. Find places in other English-speaking

countries like the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and

New Zealand. If you speak a foreign language, you can even

offer the same program in that language. Spanish speaking

ePrograms are in high demand.

7. Mention your eProgram on other ePrograms you attend.

You can slip it in with a question or when presenting your

personal information to the class.

8. Add a promotional paragraph about the program to all your

outgoing e-mails, called signatures in Outlook. Choose HTML

design in your software and add a picture of the leader/host

along with a link to where someone can register or find out

additional information.

9. Join market-rich discussion lists, billboards, or chat

rooms. If direct solicitation isn't permitted, sell gently

through your signature or indirect questions.

10. Write a press release for each eProgram. Become a

member of PR Web http://www.prweb.com/. Membership is

free. This number one website attracts a very high

percentage of media personnel.

11. Accumulate a list of all the local newspapers that offer

free community event announcements. Inquire into their

deadline and submission requirements. You will also want to

ask how can may confirm receipt of your information. They

don't intentionally leave information out, however, they

move at a fast pace and things do get lost in the shuffle.

Special note: Most community list ads are for free events.

Use a three-ring binder to record the advertising

information. You can also save the information in your e-

mail software, like Outlook, and your Internet browser

software, in a separate "Community newspaper" section.

However, if the hard drive crashes, make sure the

information safe. Due to the value of this information and

the amount of time you spent accumulating it, you still may

want to keep updated printouts just in case. Even a backup

diskette in the binder. Having a paper version also helps

when the computer is off or you need to transport the

information. This is also a great item to delegate to a

virtual assistant.

12. Add your announcement to your telephone answering

script. Change it whenever you are offering a new eProgram.

Give instructions as to how to register -- and it's

important to make this as easy as possible for them. Don't

forget some marketing tidbits of "what's in it for them

(WIIFM)" to register and do it now.

13. Use free ePrograms or offers to provide a taste and

attract participants to register for longer paid programs.

Offers can include: e-Books, ecourses, special reports, or

even a professional white papers. Offering a transcription

of the program or an audio copy is another great offer.

14. List your class in teleclass directories. Some

directories require that you attend their particular

teleclass-leading course. A big downfall in time and

expense in the short-run, however, good investment for the

long term

15. If you give speaking engagements or even when you

participate in other events, seminars, workshops, give out

flyers on your eProgram. Works well in networking groups

too. Take the flyers to the libraries, senior and civic

centers.

FYI, names of ePrograms can seem confusing at times,

however, there is a standard for what to expect depending on

the name. A teleseminar usually has very little interaction

between leader and attendees. It is set up to instruct and

participants to solely listen. Sometimes a brief Q&A period

is spaced in-between subtopic changes.

On the other hand, a teleclass provides more time for

participant to participant or participant to leader

interaction. It has a higher ratio of free forming. A

teleclass format copies more of the workshop atmosphere. A

teleprogram is a teleclass delivered over a period of time,

like a class at a learning institution. The term eProgram

is a compilation, or overview term, of all electronically

delivered learning programs


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Word Count Appx. : 1281 | Article Views 232 Published 19-07-2008